Pamela S. Thibodeaux's Blog, page 102
March 12, 2015
#ThursdayThoughts: Simple Ways to Create Balance in Your Life
Hello Friends,
I know, I know Thursday is almost over but it's never too late for Thursday Thoughts!
And since it IS so late, what better to write about than creating balance in your life?!
*free stock image from fotolia
Life is full of challenges...work, people, home, family...seems we have more obligations than time. One way to keep everything in balance is to take time for yourself.
How, you ask, do you take time for yourself when every minute of every hour of each day is filled with activity?
Here are a few simple things you can do in as little as 5 or 10 minutes to rejuvenate and refocus.
Walk: Exercise releases the feel-good hormones in our brain and experts say that frequent 10 minute walks are as beneficial as 2 or 3 thirty-minute walks.
Read: devotions, poems, short stories...anthologies like Chicken Soup and Cup of Comfort and devotional books like Penned from the Heart, offer a chance to fill the emotional void stress can cause. Sharing someone else's joy leaves you feeling better about yourself and your life.
Write: devotions, poems, essays, short stories, journal entries...writing helps to focus and reflect.
Meditate: This can be as simple as closing your eyes and taking deep breaths to repeating a mantra (relax, peace, joy, blessings) or affirmations. The two most powerful words in the universe are I AM - so when you find yourself stressed to the max, take a few moments and affirm what you ARE instead of what you aren't (I am blessed, I am healthy, I am wealthy). Another way of doing this is to affirm what you CAN instead of what you can't (I CAN do all things through Christ who strengthens me.) In place of "all things" put whatever it is you are attempting (I can lose weight through Christ who strengthens me, I can save money through Christ who strengthens me, I can finish such-and-such task....) Become the little engine that COULD!
Count Your Blessings: When things get tough, we tend to focus on the negative - turn this around and focus on something positive. Even in a difficult situation, you can find something positive to focus on. Keeping a gratitude journal is a proven technique to bring about positive changes. When you focus on the good in your life with gratitude, you draw more good to you - in other words, you reap what you sow.
We've all heard the saying that life is 90% attitude. The bible is full of advice on how to live a tranquil life.... Proverbs teaches us that life and death are in the tongue.
Deuteronomy tells us that God has put before us life and death, blessing and cursing - then He tells us which to choose - "therefore, choose life. Everything in life is a choice, love, peace, joy - when we choose to share these things, they return to us as tranquility in the midst of chaos.
Get in the habit of practicing one or more of these tranquil moments and you'll have little pockets of peace woven throughout the fabric of your daily life.
Something to think about.....
"Inspirational with an Edge" ™
I know, I know Thursday is almost over but it's never too late for Thursday Thoughts!
And since it IS so late, what better to write about than creating balance in your life?!
*free stock image from fotoliaLife is full of challenges...work, people, home, family...seems we have more obligations than time. One way to keep everything in balance is to take time for yourself.
How, you ask, do you take time for yourself when every minute of every hour of each day is filled with activity?
Here are a few simple things you can do in as little as 5 or 10 minutes to rejuvenate and refocus.
Walk: Exercise releases the feel-good hormones in our brain and experts say that frequent 10 minute walks are as beneficial as 2 or 3 thirty-minute walks.
Read: devotions, poems, short stories...anthologies like Chicken Soup and Cup of Comfort and devotional books like Penned from the Heart, offer a chance to fill the emotional void stress can cause. Sharing someone else's joy leaves you feeling better about yourself and your life.
Write: devotions, poems, essays, short stories, journal entries...writing helps to focus and reflect.
Meditate: This can be as simple as closing your eyes and taking deep breaths to repeating a mantra (relax, peace, joy, blessings) or affirmations. The two most powerful words in the universe are I AM - so when you find yourself stressed to the max, take a few moments and affirm what you ARE instead of what you aren't (I am blessed, I am healthy, I am wealthy). Another way of doing this is to affirm what you CAN instead of what you can't (I CAN do all things through Christ who strengthens me.) In place of "all things" put whatever it is you are attempting (I can lose weight through Christ who strengthens me, I can save money through Christ who strengthens me, I can finish such-and-such task....) Become the little engine that COULD!
Count Your Blessings: When things get tough, we tend to focus on the negative - turn this around and focus on something positive. Even in a difficult situation, you can find something positive to focus on. Keeping a gratitude journal is a proven technique to bring about positive changes. When you focus on the good in your life with gratitude, you draw more good to you - in other words, you reap what you sow.
We've all heard the saying that life is 90% attitude. The bible is full of advice on how to live a tranquil life.... Proverbs teaches us that life and death are in the tongue.
Deuteronomy tells us that God has put before us life and death, blessing and cursing - then He tells us which to choose - "therefore, choose life. Everything in life is a choice, love, peace, joy - when we choose to share these things, they return to us as tranquility in the midst of chaos.
Get in the habit of practicing one or more of these tranquil moments and you'll have little pockets of peace woven throughout the fabric of your daily life.
Something to think about.....
"Inspirational with an Edge" ™
March 10, 2015
#TuesdayTreasure: #Egg-CerptExchange with Kim Iverson Headlee!
Good Morning Friends and a wet one it is here in SW Louisiana!
Today is the first of our Egg-Cerpt Exchange posts....Hope you enjoy it!
TITLE – Morning's Journey
SERIES –The Dragon's Dove Chronicles, vol. 2
AUTHOR – Kim Iverson HeadleeGENRE – Young Adult Historical Fantasy Spiritual RomancePUBLICATION DATE – August 2014LENGTH (Pages/# Words) – 447 pages/140K wordsPUBLISHER – Pendragon Cove PressCOVER DESIGNER – Natasha Brown
SYNOPSIS
In a violent age when enemies besiege Brydein and alliances shift as swiftly as the wind, stand two remarkable leaders: the Caledonian warrior-queen Gyanhumara and her consort, Arthur the Pendragon. Their fiery love is tempered only by their conviction to forge unity between their disparate peoples. Arthur and Gyan must create an impenetrable front to protect Brydein and Caledonia from land-lusting Saxons and the marauding Angli raiders who may be massing forces in the east, near Arthur’s sister and those he has sworn to protect.
But their biggest threat is an enemy within: Urien, Arthur’s rival and the man Gyan was treaty-bound to marry until she broke that promise for Arthur’s love. When Urien becomes chieftain of his clan, his increase in wealth and power is matched only by the magnitude of his hatred of Arthur and Gyan—and his threat to their infant son.
Morning’s Journey , sequel to the critically acclaimed Dawnflight, propels the reader from the heights of triumph to the depths of despair, through the struggles of some of the most fascinating characters in all of Arthurian literature. Those struggles are exacerbated by the characters’ own flawed choices. Gyan and Arthur must learn that while extending forgiveness to others may be difficult, forgiveness of self is the most excruciating—yet ultimately the most healing—step of the entire journey.
Watch the Book Trailer Here.
Read an excerpt and check out the blog tour for Morning's Journey HERE!
Stay tuned for more #EggCerpt Exchange posts coming in the next couple of weeks!
Until later...take care & God Bless!
PamT
Today is the first of our Egg-Cerpt Exchange posts....Hope you enjoy it!
TITLE – Morning's Journey SERIES –The Dragon's Dove Chronicles, vol. 2
AUTHOR – Kim Iverson HeadleeGENRE – Young Adult Historical Fantasy Spiritual RomancePUBLICATION DATE – August 2014LENGTH (Pages/# Words) – 447 pages/140K wordsPUBLISHER – Pendragon Cove PressCOVER DESIGNER – Natasha Brown
SYNOPSIS
In a violent age when enemies besiege Brydein and alliances shift as swiftly as the wind, stand two remarkable leaders: the Caledonian warrior-queen Gyanhumara and her consort, Arthur the Pendragon. Their fiery love is tempered only by their conviction to forge unity between their disparate peoples. Arthur and Gyan must create an impenetrable front to protect Brydein and Caledonia from land-lusting Saxons and the marauding Angli raiders who may be massing forces in the east, near Arthur’s sister and those he has sworn to protect.
But their biggest threat is an enemy within: Urien, Arthur’s rival and the man Gyan was treaty-bound to marry until she broke that promise for Arthur’s love. When Urien becomes chieftain of his clan, his increase in wealth and power is matched only by the magnitude of his hatred of Arthur and Gyan—and his threat to their infant son.
Morning’s Journey , sequel to the critically acclaimed Dawnflight, propels the reader from the heights of triumph to the depths of despair, through the struggles of some of the most fascinating characters in all of Arthurian literature. Those struggles are exacerbated by the characters’ own flawed choices. Gyan and Arthur must learn that while extending forgiveness to others may be difficult, forgiveness of self is the most excruciating—yet ultimately the most healing—step of the entire journey.
Watch the Book Trailer Here.
Read an excerpt and check out the blog tour for Morning's Journey HERE!
Stay tuned for more #EggCerpt Exchange posts coming in the next couple of weeks!
Until later...take care & God Bless!
PamT
March 7, 2015
#SaturdaySpotlight: Jen J Danna!
Good Morning Friends!
Well March just seems to be marching on as here we are at the 7th already!
Today it is my pleasure to welcome author Jen J Danna back to the spotlight with her book, Two Parts Bloody Murder.
A scientist specializing in infectious diseases, Jen J. Danna works as part of a dynamic research group at a cutting-edge Canadian university. However, her true passion lies in indulging her love of the mysterious through her writing. Together with her partner Ann Vanderlaan she crafts suspenseful crime fiction with a realistic scientific edge. Their four Abbott and Lowell Forensic Mysteries include DEAD, WITHOUT A STONE TO TELL IT; NO ONE SEES ME ’TILL I FALL; A FLAME IN THE WIND OF DEATH; and TWO PARTS BLOODY MURDER.
Jen lives near Toronto, Ontario, with her husband and two daughters. You can find out more about Jen by visiting her website or connecting with her on Facebook, Goodreads, Pinterest or Twitter!
Prohibition was a time of clandestine excess—short skirts, drinking, dancing . . . and death. But a murder committed so many years ago still has the power to reverberate decades later with deadly consequences. It’s a double surprise for Trooper Leigh Abbott as she investigates a cold case and discovers two murder victims in a historic nineteenth-century building. Together with forensic anthropologist Matt Lowell and medical examiner Dr. Edward Rowe, she uncovers the secrets of a long-forgotten, Prohibition-era speakeasy in the same building. But when the two victims are discovered to be relatives—their deaths separated by over eighty years—the case deepens, and suddenly the speakeasy is revealed as ground zero for a cascade of crimes through the decades. When a murder committed nearly forty years ago comes under fresh scrutiny, the team realizes that an innocent man was wrongly imprisoned and the real murderer is still at large. Now they must solve three murders spanning over eighty years if they hope to set a wronged man free.
EXCERPT
“Whoa!” Brad Riley’s eyes nearly bugged out of his head as he stepped into the dimly lit bar. “This is amazing!” Riley was the squad rookie, and the one trooper in the unit Leigh was on truly good terms with. He’d heard the stories about Leigh from the other guys, but had decided on his own that she wasn’t a bad cop. He’d even volunteered to help with her casework in the past. He was young and green, but they’d all been that at some point, and Leigh genuinely liked him.
Leigh grinned at his enthusiasm. “Yeah, it’s pretty cool.”
“The body is down here?” Riley swung the sledgehammer off his shoulder, carefully lowering it to the ground.
“Maybe. We’re about to find out for sure. Through here.” She led the way into the back, waiting patiently as Riley dragged his heels a bit, looking at everything as he came through.“Do you want to do the honors?” she asked Rowe.
He stepped back, one hand raised, the other still weighed down with the crowbar he carried. “No, ma’am. This is the most fun I’ve had on a case in years, but this is your show. You do the honors.”
Leigh accepted the sledgehammer from Riley, swinging it up to rest on her shoulder. “I’m thinking dead center to have the least amount of support from the surrounding structure. Agreed?”
“Yes. Not that you’ll have much luck aiming with that, but try for the mortar joins. The mortar will give way before the brick.”
Leigh got a good grip on the sledgehammer and then swung it with all her strength at the wall. It hit with a resounding crash, the reverberations shooting up both arms and straight into her shoulders. She let the sledgehammer fall heavily to the floor, narrowly missing her toes, before examining the wall. The bricks were all still in place, but mortar crumbled to the floor. Heaving the sledgehammer up to her shoulder again, she prepared for the second strike.It took three blows to knock the first brick free and two more to make a hole big enough to see through. Leigh set the sledgehammer down against the wall, panting. “That . . . should do it.”
Stepping up to the shoulder-height hole, she pulled a loose brick free and tossed it onto the plank floor at her feet. She angled the light into the hole, crouched down to peer in, and froze.The hidden space was approximately two feet deep and ran the length of the eight foot wall. She had to crane her neck to follow the narrow beam of light down to the floor. But after all the time spent with Matt and his students, there was no mistaking the pale flash of bones lying inside.
A tomb was hidden on the other side of this wall. But had the victim been alive or dead when he was bricked in so long ago?
Wordlessly, she stepped back and handed the flashlight to Rowe. He gave her a quick, searching glance, but then moved in to see for himself. He peered through the gap, squinting in the dim light and then spending a long moment taking in the remains. Finally, he pulled back and handed the flashlight to Riley before stepping out of the way.
Leigh met his solemn gaze. “Better call Lowell back ASAP,” he said. “Looks like we’re going to need him again.”
Well if you like murder mysteries, you might want to check this one out!
Two Parts Bloody Murder can be purchased at Amazon in Print and for Kindle; Amazon CA Print, Kindle; Amazon UK Print, Kindle and at B&N.
I sure hope you enjoyed this week's Saturday Spotlight!
Be sure and come back weekly for Tuesday Treasure, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight. Oh and watch for upcoming Egg-cerpt Exchanges!
Until later....take care, God Bless and remember....Our thoughts create our life so choose your thoughts wisely.
Something to think about.....
"Inspirational with an Edge" ™
Well March just seems to be marching on as here we are at the 7th already!
Today it is my pleasure to welcome author Jen J Danna back to the spotlight with her book, Two Parts Bloody Murder.
A scientist specializing in infectious diseases, Jen J. Danna works as part of a dynamic research group at a cutting-edge Canadian university. However, her true passion lies in indulging her love of the mysterious through her writing. Together with her partner Ann Vanderlaan she crafts suspenseful crime fiction with a realistic scientific edge. Their four Abbott and Lowell Forensic Mysteries include DEAD, WITHOUT A STONE TO TELL IT; NO ONE SEES ME ’TILL I FALL; A FLAME IN THE WIND OF DEATH; and TWO PARTS BLOODY MURDER.Jen lives near Toronto, Ontario, with her husband and two daughters. You can find out more about Jen by visiting her website or connecting with her on Facebook, Goodreads, Pinterest or Twitter!
Prohibition was a time of clandestine excess—short skirts, drinking, dancing . . . and death. But a murder committed so many years ago still has the power to reverberate decades later with deadly consequences. It’s a double surprise for Trooper Leigh Abbott as she investigates a cold case and discovers two murder victims in a historic nineteenth-century building. Together with forensic anthropologist Matt Lowell and medical examiner Dr. Edward Rowe, she uncovers the secrets of a long-forgotten, Prohibition-era speakeasy in the same building. But when the two victims are discovered to be relatives—their deaths separated by over eighty years—the case deepens, and suddenly the speakeasy is revealed as ground zero for a cascade of crimes through the decades. When a murder committed nearly forty years ago comes under fresh scrutiny, the team realizes that an innocent man was wrongly imprisoned and the real murderer is still at large. Now they must solve three murders spanning over eighty years if they hope to set a wronged man free.EXCERPT
“Whoa!” Brad Riley’s eyes nearly bugged out of his head as he stepped into the dimly lit bar. “This is amazing!” Riley was the squad rookie, and the one trooper in the unit Leigh was on truly good terms with. He’d heard the stories about Leigh from the other guys, but had decided on his own that she wasn’t a bad cop. He’d even volunteered to help with her casework in the past. He was young and green, but they’d all been that at some point, and Leigh genuinely liked him.
Leigh grinned at his enthusiasm. “Yeah, it’s pretty cool.”
“The body is down here?” Riley swung the sledgehammer off his shoulder, carefully lowering it to the ground.
“Maybe. We’re about to find out for sure. Through here.” She led the way into the back, waiting patiently as Riley dragged his heels a bit, looking at everything as he came through.“Do you want to do the honors?” she asked Rowe.
He stepped back, one hand raised, the other still weighed down with the crowbar he carried. “No, ma’am. This is the most fun I’ve had on a case in years, but this is your show. You do the honors.”
Leigh accepted the sledgehammer from Riley, swinging it up to rest on her shoulder. “I’m thinking dead center to have the least amount of support from the surrounding structure. Agreed?”
“Yes. Not that you’ll have much luck aiming with that, but try for the mortar joins. The mortar will give way before the brick.”
Leigh got a good grip on the sledgehammer and then swung it with all her strength at the wall. It hit with a resounding crash, the reverberations shooting up both arms and straight into her shoulders. She let the sledgehammer fall heavily to the floor, narrowly missing her toes, before examining the wall. The bricks were all still in place, but mortar crumbled to the floor. Heaving the sledgehammer up to her shoulder again, she prepared for the second strike.It took three blows to knock the first brick free and two more to make a hole big enough to see through. Leigh set the sledgehammer down against the wall, panting. “That . . . should do it.”
Stepping up to the shoulder-height hole, she pulled a loose brick free and tossed it onto the plank floor at her feet. She angled the light into the hole, crouched down to peer in, and froze.The hidden space was approximately two feet deep and ran the length of the eight foot wall. She had to crane her neck to follow the narrow beam of light down to the floor. But after all the time spent with Matt and his students, there was no mistaking the pale flash of bones lying inside.
A tomb was hidden on the other side of this wall. But had the victim been alive or dead when he was bricked in so long ago?
Wordlessly, she stepped back and handed the flashlight to Rowe. He gave her a quick, searching glance, but then moved in to see for himself. He peered through the gap, squinting in the dim light and then spending a long moment taking in the remains. Finally, he pulled back and handed the flashlight to Riley before stepping out of the way.
Leigh met his solemn gaze. “Better call Lowell back ASAP,” he said. “Looks like we’re going to need him again.”
Well if you like murder mysteries, you might want to check this one out!
Two Parts Bloody Murder can be purchased at Amazon in Print and for Kindle; Amazon CA Print, Kindle; Amazon UK Print, Kindle and at B&N.
I sure hope you enjoyed this week's Saturday Spotlight!
Be sure and come back weekly for Tuesday Treasure, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight. Oh and watch for upcoming Egg-cerpt Exchanges!
Until later....take care, God Bless and remember....Our thoughts create our life so choose your thoughts wisely.
Something to think about.....
"Inspirational with an Edge" ™
March 5, 2015
#ThursdayThoughts: Special Guest Post by Terri Blackstock!
Good Morning Friends,
It is my great pleasure to bring you a special guest post today by award-winning author, Terri Blackstock!
Modern Day Woman at the Well
I love the story about the Woman at the Well in John 4. In the Jewish culture, it wasn’t acceptable for a man to be alone with a single woman—especially a Samaritan—yet Jesus spoke to her as though she was the most important person in her village. He had a purpose for her—to take the message of the Messiah’s arrival to her neighbors. He gently pointed out her sin—that she’d had five husbands and was living, unmarried, with a sixth. Her life was a mess. She was so ostracized by the women of her town, that she didn’t come to draw water with the rest of them. She lived a lonely life of regret, yet Jesus had big plans for her.
My character, Holly, in my new book Twisted Innocence, is a lot like that woman. Her life is a mess, and she’s made horrible choices. Those choices have cost her a lot, and now, unmarried, she’s given birth to a baby girl. She’s a Christian who long ago strayed from her faith after her preacher-father abandoned the family for another woman, but now that she’s a mother, she’s homesick for her faith and desperately wants to live a stable life for her daughter.
My hope in writing Twisted Innocence is that all those people out there who have made bad choices and messed up their lives, those people who think that God is disgusted and fed up with them, will relate to Holly’s story and see that there’s still time for redemption. The saddest thing in the world to me is for a person to believe there are no more chances left, that their actions have sealed their fate, that there’s no turning back.
But that’s not true. If Jesus could choose the Woman at the Well to be the bearer of His good news to the Samaritans, instead of some religious leader or respected member of the community, then He must have a purpose for you. If He could choose the apostle Paul, who had made it his business to murder Christians, then what could you have done that is beyond the power of his sacrifice? If God could use David, who’d had a man murdered because he got his wife pregnant, are you beyond His forgiveness?
Holly’s not the only one in need of redemption in Twisted Innocence. In this thriller, when Holly’s baby’s father, a murder suspect, comes back into the picture, Holly realizes her consequences have caught up to her. He takes her and the baby hostage, and Holly’s life changes again. But Creed has a story of his own, and he feels redemption is just out of his grasp.
There’s a strong message of God’s provision throughout the Moonlighters Series, and with this final book, I pray that Christ will convict hearts and draw hurting people to Himself.
Terri Blackstock is a New York Times best-seller, with over six million copies sold worldwide. She is the winner of three Carol Awards, a Christian Retailers Choice Award, and a Romantic Times Book Reviews Career Achievement Award, among others. She has had over twenty-five years of success as a novelist. Terri spent the first twelve years of her life traveling in an Air Force family. She lived in nine states and attended the first four years of school in The Netherlands. Because she was a perpetual “new kid,” her imagination became her closest friend. That, she believes, was the biggest factor in her becoming a novelist.
To keep up with Terri Blackstock, visit www.terriblackstock.com, become a fan on Facebook (tblackstock) or follow her on Twitter (@TerriBlackstock).
Wow, it is such a pleasure and an honor to have Terri visit today. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.
Stay tuned for Saturday Spotlight with Jen J Danna!
Until later...take care & God Bless. PamT
It is my great pleasure to bring you a special guest post today by award-winning author, Terri Blackstock!
Modern Day Woman at the Well
I love the story about the Woman at the Well in John 4. In the Jewish culture, it wasn’t acceptable for a man to be alone with a single woman—especially a Samaritan—yet Jesus spoke to her as though she was the most important person in her village. He had a purpose for her—to take the message of the Messiah’s arrival to her neighbors. He gently pointed out her sin—that she’d had five husbands and was living, unmarried, with a sixth. Her life was a mess. She was so ostracized by the women of her town, that she didn’t come to draw water with the rest of them. She lived a lonely life of regret, yet Jesus had big plans for her.
My character, Holly, in my new book Twisted Innocence, is a lot like that woman. Her life is a mess, and she’s made horrible choices. Those choices have cost her a lot, and now, unmarried, she’s given birth to a baby girl. She’s a Christian who long ago strayed from her faith after her preacher-father abandoned the family for another woman, but now that she’s a mother, she’s homesick for her faith and desperately wants to live a stable life for her daughter.
My hope in writing Twisted Innocence is that all those people out there who have made bad choices and messed up their lives, those people who think that God is disgusted and fed up with them, will relate to Holly’s story and see that there’s still time for redemption. The saddest thing in the world to me is for a person to believe there are no more chances left, that their actions have sealed their fate, that there’s no turning back.But that’s not true. If Jesus could choose the Woman at the Well to be the bearer of His good news to the Samaritans, instead of some religious leader or respected member of the community, then He must have a purpose for you. If He could choose the apostle Paul, who had made it his business to murder Christians, then what could you have done that is beyond the power of his sacrifice? If God could use David, who’d had a man murdered because he got his wife pregnant, are you beyond His forgiveness?
Holly’s not the only one in need of redemption in Twisted Innocence. In this thriller, when Holly’s baby’s father, a murder suspect, comes back into the picture, Holly realizes her consequences have caught up to her. He takes her and the baby hostage, and Holly’s life changes again. But Creed has a story of his own, and he feels redemption is just out of his grasp.
There’s a strong message of God’s provision throughout the Moonlighters Series, and with this final book, I pray that Christ will convict hearts and draw hurting people to Himself.
Terri Blackstock is a New York Times best-seller, with over six million copies sold worldwide. She is the winner of three Carol Awards, a Christian Retailers Choice Award, and a Romantic Times Book Reviews Career Achievement Award, among others. She has had over twenty-five years of success as a novelist. Terri spent the first twelve years of her life traveling in an Air Force family. She lived in nine states and attended the first four years of school in The Netherlands. Because she was a perpetual “new kid,” her imagination became her closest friend. That, she believes, was the biggest factor in her becoming a novelist. To keep up with Terri Blackstock, visit www.terriblackstock.com, become a fan on Facebook (tblackstock) or follow her on Twitter (@TerriBlackstock).
Wow, it is such a pleasure and an honor to have Terri visit today. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.
Stay tuned for Saturday Spotlight with Jen J Danna!
Until later...take care & God Bless. PamT
March 3, 2015
#TuesdayTreasure: New Adventures, New Memories
Hello Friends,
Yeah, I'm a little behind but hey, I showed up. :-)
As you all know, my husband passed away in 2009 and my life has been a roller coaster of adventures, some good and some not so great.
Well late last year I reconnected with a man from my past. We had dated briefly back in 1987 then went our separate ways, each married and both have lost our spouses (sounds like a romance novel right? LOL!) Anyway...
We reconnected and he loves to travel, try new things, and explore new places. So we've been sharing in some new adventures. Today I'd like to share a few photos and memories with you from a couple of the latest....
A Bob Seger concert in Lafayette, Louisiana
and a trip to Biloxi, MS to see the group Heart at the Hard Rock Casino...
While in Biloxi we also toured the Visitor center and climbed the Lighthouse....
If you recall back in 2013 I wrote a Thursday Thought post on being single and finding a mate in which I listed some of the qualities I desired in a man. Well let me tell you getting specific and doing this exercise, along with having faith and patience of course, really works. Although I didn't really get a chance to know this man when we dated way back when, he pretty much fits the bill of what I decided I wanted in a man/relationship.
Well I hope you enjoyed this week's Tuesday Treasure. Stay tuned for Thursday Thoughts and of course, Saturday Spotlight!
Until later... take care and God Bless!
PamT
Yeah, I'm a little behind but hey, I showed up. :-)
As you all know, my husband passed away in 2009 and my life has been a roller coaster of adventures, some good and some not so great.
Well late last year I reconnected with a man from my past. We had dated briefly back in 1987 then went our separate ways, each married and both have lost our spouses (sounds like a romance novel right? LOL!) Anyway...
We reconnected and he loves to travel, try new things, and explore new places. So we've been sharing in some new adventures. Today I'd like to share a few photos and memories with you from a couple of the latest....
A Bob Seger concert in Lafayette, Louisiana
and a trip to Biloxi, MS to see the group Heart at the Hard Rock Casino...
While in Biloxi we also toured the Visitor center and climbed the Lighthouse....If you recall back in 2013 I wrote a Thursday Thought post on being single and finding a mate in which I listed some of the qualities I desired in a man. Well let me tell you getting specific and doing this exercise, along with having faith and patience of course, really works. Although I didn't really get a chance to know this man when we dated way back when, he pretty much fits the bill of what I decided I wanted in a man/relationship.
Well I hope you enjoyed this week's Tuesday Treasure. Stay tuned for Thursday Thoughts and of course, Saturday Spotlight!
Until later... take care and God Bless!
PamT
February 28, 2015
#SaturdaySpotlight: Out of Control by Tori Richards!
Well, it's the last Saturday Spotlight of Feb 2015...yeah...goes without saying this year is flying by.
Remember friends, Tori writes erotic romance so use caution when reading and/or buying her books!
Logan Knight is recuperating from a fire that killed his two best friends. Libby Turner is on a mission to keep her beloved grandmother out of an assisted living facility. From the moment the two meet, sparks fly and they can't keep their hands off each other. Can they stick to their plan of keeping their relationship strictly sexual or do they give in to the love that claims their hearts?
Excerpt:
Logan was thinking about how close he’d come to making that decision when a small sound penetrated his silent musings. He was resting against the edge of the pool, water lapping around his neck. He turned his head enough to see someone doing the very thing he’d done a few minutes earlier, only with a little more grace. Damn, all he’d wanted was a nice quiet swim alone. Maybe with a little luck they’d never notice he was there in the shadows. He remained quiet.
It was too dark to see who it was but once they stepped into the moonlight and dropped their towel Logan got a clear view of a slim form and jutting breasts. As the woman continued to the deep end he sucked in his breath, his heart literally ceased beating. Without hesitation she reached behind her to undo her bikini top, letting it float to the pool deck before shimmying out of her bottoms with enough hip action to make a belly dancer jealous. She stepped up onto the diving board, and for a moment she was suspended in a slim ray of moonlight.
He released a low whistle between his teeth, realizing at that moment the seductive nymph he was ogling was none other than Margaret’s granddaughter, Libby. He tried to swallow, almost choking on his tongue. Her form was willowy slim yet had all the right curves to tempt a man into losing his mind. Her long hair hid her breasts from his view, stopping just short of her belly button. The lower half of her body was hidden in the shadows.....
As she dove a second time, Logan slowly waded forward until he knew he was in the moonlight when she surfaced. He sensed Libby’s awareness of him long before he heard her soft gasp of surprise.
“Oh my God!” She exclaimed. “I thought I was alone!”
Whew! If this doesn't warm you up nothing will LOL!
Out of Control can be purchased at Smashwords.
Find out more about Tori and her books by visiting her Website. Follow Tori on Facebook and Twitter.
Remember friends, Tori writes erotic romance so use caution when reading and/or buying her books!
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Logan Knight is recuperating from a fire that killed his two best friends. Libby Turner is on a mission to keep her beloved grandmother out of an assisted living facility. From the moment the two meet, sparks fly and they can't keep their hands off each other. Can they stick to their plan of keeping their relationship strictly sexual or do they give in to the love that claims their hearts?Excerpt:
Logan was thinking about how close he’d come to making that decision when a small sound penetrated his silent musings. He was resting against the edge of the pool, water lapping around his neck. He turned his head enough to see someone doing the very thing he’d done a few minutes earlier, only with a little more grace. Damn, all he’d wanted was a nice quiet swim alone. Maybe with a little luck they’d never notice he was there in the shadows. He remained quiet.
It was too dark to see who it was but once they stepped into the moonlight and dropped their towel Logan got a clear view of a slim form and jutting breasts. As the woman continued to the deep end he sucked in his breath, his heart literally ceased beating. Without hesitation she reached behind her to undo her bikini top, letting it float to the pool deck before shimmying out of her bottoms with enough hip action to make a belly dancer jealous. She stepped up onto the diving board, and for a moment she was suspended in a slim ray of moonlight.
He released a low whistle between his teeth, realizing at that moment the seductive nymph he was ogling was none other than Margaret’s granddaughter, Libby. He tried to swallow, almost choking on his tongue. Her form was willowy slim yet had all the right curves to tempt a man into losing his mind. Her long hair hid her breasts from his view, stopping just short of her belly button. The lower half of her body was hidden in the shadows.....
As she dove a second time, Logan slowly waded forward until he knew he was in the moonlight when she surfaced. He sensed Libby’s awareness of him long before he heard her soft gasp of surprise.
“Oh my God!” She exclaimed. “I thought I was alone!”
Whew! If this doesn't warm you up nothing will LOL!
Out of Control can be purchased at Smashwords.
Find out more about Tori and her books by visiting her Website. Follow Tori on Facebook and Twitter.
February 26, 2015
#ThursdayThoughts: Special Guest Post by JA Marx
Good Morning Friends,
Today I welcome JA Marx with a special Thursday Thoughts guest post Chivalry Reignited.
Imagine sending your son on an island vacation with his friends, and a violent storm maroons them without means of communication or transportation. They discover a young woman washed up on their beach, alone and afraid. In the face of temptation, will your son live up to the values you labored to instill?
Moms hope and pray for both their sons and daughters to grow up with a seamless strength of character. But mothers and sons appear to naturally foster a unique connection. While Dad demonstrates how to be a man, something about a mother’s wisdom, grace, and honor round out that son’s sense of confidence and respect for others.
My son just turned twenty-seven and now raises his own son. What a joy it is to witness his parental victories and failures. But what moves my heart most is his determination to protect his wife, to sacrifice for her well-being, and serve her as if she is a gift from God. Living in a culture that devalues women on screen, in magazines and on billboards, we need more men willing to take a stand for godly morals.
If you’re a young mom, then be encouraged: you matter, even to the neighbor kids; your sacrifice and love never come back void.
You’re not a mom? Then find one and tell her how amazing and strong she is; remind her that seasons pass quickly so don’t grow weary of doing good. Verbal encouragement could be the best gift that mother receives all year.
The “imagine your son” scenario in the first paragraph is a subplot of Destiny Defied. The four young men, supporting cast, in the story are far from perfect, but they do learn a valuable lesson: treating a woman with respect can turn her life around.
BIO:
J.A. publishes a weekly blog related to spiritual and physical health. She has also published devotionals with CBN, co-authored two novellas, The Christmas Tree Treasure Hunt and A Ruby Christmas, published articles in the Texas Health Mom’s Blog, and edits for HIStalk.com. Her first romantic suspense will release in 2015 with Prism Books.
Above all, J.A.’s desire is to see people set free to live and love. She feels her purpose on earth is to participate in what Jesus Christ came to do: destroy the works of darkness. (1 John 3:8b; Matthew 16:19).
Her desire to promote health and wholeness grew from 17 plus years in marriage coaching and developing small group ministries in four different states across the USA.
She and her husband presently reside in Texas near their children and grandchildren.
Well friends, hope you enjoyed this special post! I sure did. Check back often for more Thursday Thoughts, Saturday Spotlights and Tuesday Treasures.
Until later...take care & God Bless! PamT
Today I welcome JA Marx with a special Thursday Thoughts guest post Chivalry Reignited.
Imagine sending your son on an island vacation with his friends, and a violent storm maroons them without means of communication or transportation. They discover a young woman washed up on their beach, alone and afraid. In the face of temptation, will your son live up to the values you labored to instill?
Moms hope and pray for both their sons and daughters to grow up with a seamless strength of character. But mothers and sons appear to naturally foster a unique connection. While Dad demonstrates how to be a man, something about a mother’s wisdom, grace, and honor round out that son’s sense of confidence and respect for others.My son just turned twenty-seven and now raises his own son. What a joy it is to witness his parental victories and failures. But what moves my heart most is his determination to protect his wife, to sacrifice for her well-being, and serve her as if she is a gift from God. Living in a culture that devalues women on screen, in magazines and on billboards, we need more men willing to take a stand for godly morals.
If you’re a young mom, then be encouraged: you matter, even to the neighbor kids; your sacrifice and love never come back void.
You’re not a mom? Then find one and tell her how amazing and strong she is; remind her that seasons pass quickly so don’t grow weary of doing good. Verbal encouragement could be the best gift that mother receives all year.The “imagine your son” scenario in the first paragraph is a subplot of Destiny Defied. The four young men, supporting cast, in the story are far from perfect, but they do learn a valuable lesson: treating a woman with respect can turn her life around.
BIO:
J.A. publishes a weekly blog related to spiritual and physical health. She has also published devotionals with CBN, co-authored two novellas, The Christmas Tree Treasure Hunt and A Ruby Christmas, published articles in the Texas Health Mom’s Blog, and edits for HIStalk.com. Her first romantic suspense will release in 2015 with Prism Books.
Above all, J.A.’s desire is to see people set free to live and love. She feels her purpose on earth is to participate in what Jesus Christ came to do: destroy the works of darkness. (1 John 3:8b; Matthew 16:19).
Her desire to promote health and wholeness grew from 17 plus years in marriage coaching and developing small group ministries in four different states across the USA.
She and her husband presently reside in Texas near their children and grandchildren.
Well friends, hope you enjoyed this special post! I sure did. Check back often for more Thursday Thoughts, Saturday Spotlights and Tuesday Treasures.
Until later...take care & God Bless! PamT
February 24, 2015
#TuesdayTreasure: Guest Post by Linda Yezak (@LindaYezak)
Good Morning and it's a blustery one!
Cold, ice, & rain does not make for a fun day but this week's Tuesday Treasure will warm your soul....
Every year, St. Mary's Catholic Church in my husband’s hometown of Bremond, Texas, holds a bazaar complete with drawings, booths, barbecue, and a whoppin' big auction. And every year, you'll find us there–not because we’re Catholic, but because the bazaar is full of family and fun. We get a kick out of it.
Everything is up for auction. Homemade and home-canned goods, quilts, toys, furniture, motor oil (yes, you read that right), wine made from Muscadine and wild grapes. We almost always buy the canned goods, paying far more than we would if we just got the same thing in Kroger. But it's fun, and it keeps us in good standing with a community we'll be moving to when he retires, and besides--we know and love most of the folks who did the canning.
But not everything we buy is edible. One year, we bought a jewelry box handmade by a prisoner in Angola. Loved it then, still love it. This year, my heart went to something I kept calling a bottle, because I could see it only well enough to know I wanted it.
When they brought it out so we could see it better, I really wanted it, even though I still didn't know what it was.
Well, $40 later, we were the proud owners of a "beer growler," and we got it for $4.99 less than the sticker price at Texas Slav & German Warehouse in Bremond (they donated it to the auction). Aside from the heavy brown glass, it has a ceramic top and an ornate silver handle.
I had to look up what a growler was because I didn't have a clue. It's not used to make beer, but to carry it home from the beer barrel at the local pub--the 18th Century six-pack, so to speak. (They date back to the 18th Century, but the term "growler" didn't show up until the 19th Century. It was a slang term, describing the "growling" sound the brew's carbonation made when leaking from the top.) Since beer wasn't sold on Sundays, folks would go get their "fix" on Saturday night.
This one isn't an antique, but I love it anyway. It would carry maybe a liter of Coke, or it could (and no doubt will) just sit on a shelf and look pretty. I doubt it'll ever be used to bring beer home.
Things like this silly growler and the jewelry box commemorate wonderful times and the true treasure: being with family. Can’t put a price on that.
Over twenty years ago, after a decade of life as a "single-again," author Linda Yezak rediscovered God's love and forgiveness when He allowed her a second chance at marital happiness. She is now living her greatest romance with her husband in a forest in East Texas. After such an amazing blessing, she chooses to trumpet God's gift of second chances in the books she writes. Linda's novels are heart-warming hallmarks of love, forgiveness, and new beginnings.
Find out more about Linda by visiting her Website 777 Peppermint Place and be sure to check out the blog, Author Culture that Linda shares with 5 other authors.
Also check out Linda's book, The Cat Lady's Secret which is available now through Pelican Book Group and Amazon!
Well Friends, hope you enjoyed this week's Tuesday Treasure and I hope you'll check back for Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight.
IMW, take care, God Bless and Stay warm!!
PamT
Cold, ice, & rain does not make for a fun day but this week's Tuesday Treasure will warm your soul....
Every year, St. Mary's Catholic Church in my husband’s hometown of Bremond, Texas, holds a bazaar complete with drawings, booths, barbecue, and a whoppin' big auction. And every year, you'll find us there–not because we’re Catholic, but because the bazaar is full of family and fun. We get a kick out of it.
Everything is up for auction. Homemade and home-canned goods, quilts, toys, furniture, motor oil (yes, you read that right), wine made from Muscadine and wild grapes. We almost always buy the canned goods, paying far more than we would if we just got the same thing in Kroger. But it's fun, and it keeps us in good standing with a community we'll be moving to when he retires, and besides--we know and love most of the folks who did the canning.
But not everything we buy is edible. One year, we bought a jewelry box handmade by a prisoner in Angola. Loved it then, still love it. This year, my heart went to something I kept calling a bottle, because I could see it only well enough to know I wanted it.
When they brought it out so we could see it better, I really wanted it, even though I still didn't know what it was.
Well, $40 later, we were the proud owners of a "beer growler," and we got it for $4.99 less than the sticker price at Texas Slav & German Warehouse in Bremond (they donated it to the auction). Aside from the heavy brown glass, it has a ceramic top and an ornate silver handle.I had to look up what a growler was because I didn't have a clue. It's not used to make beer, but to carry it home from the beer barrel at the local pub--the 18th Century six-pack, so to speak. (They date back to the 18th Century, but the term "growler" didn't show up until the 19th Century. It was a slang term, describing the "growling" sound the brew's carbonation made when leaking from the top.) Since beer wasn't sold on Sundays, folks would go get their "fix" on Saturday night.
This one isn't an antique, but I love it anyway. It would carry maybe a liter of Coke, or it could (and no doubt will) just sit on a shelf and look pretty. I doubt it'll ever be used to bring beer home.
Things like this silly growler and the jewelry box commemorate wonderful times and the true treasure: being with family. Can’t put a price on that.
Over twenty years ago, after a decade of life as a "single-again," author Linda Yezak rediscovered God's love and forgiveness when He allowed her a second chance at marital happiness. She is now living her greatest romance with her husband in a forest in East Texas. After such an amazing blessing, she chooses to trumpet God's gift of second chances in the books she writes. Linda's novels are heart-warming hallmarks of love, forgiveness, and new beginnings.
Find out more about Linda by visiting her Website 777 Peppermint Place and be sure to check out the blog, Author Culture that Linda shares with 5 other authors.Also check out Linda's book, The Cat Lady's Secret which is available now through Pelican Book Group and Amazon!
Well Friends, hope you enjoyed this week's Tuesday Treasure and I hope you'll check back for Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight.
IMW, take care, God Bless and Stay warm!!
PamT
February 21, 2015
#SaturdaySpotlight: Mary Annslee Urban!
Good Morning Friends!
It is with great pleasure I bring you this Saturday Spotlight on fellow Pelican Book Group author, Mary Annslee Urban.
Annslee Urban grew up watching old-time romance movies, which she attributes to her passion for sweet romance, true love and happy endings. A daydreamer at heart, Mary began her writing journey when the youngest of her five children started school. For several years she worked as a freelance writer for newspapers in her community and has written for magazines and online publications.
Raised in the foothills of Arizona, she survived temperature shock when she moved to Western Pennsylvania, before setting in North Carolina with her husband and children. Aside from writing, Annslee works part-time as a Registered Nurse in the Behavioral Health field. She is a member of ACFW, and has served as on the board of Carolina Christian Writers. She currently has 4 published novels. Her current book, Broken Silence, Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense, is due out March 1, 2015.
When she isn’t writing, Annslee enjoys cooking, traveling to faraway places, playing with grandbabies and all things chocolate!
Broken Silence 4 star RT review rating! Amber Talbot runs the Safe Harbor counseling center for women in crisis situations. Recent attacks on her life bring her ex-financé Patrick Wiley, back into her world. The secret she harbors is what caused her to break off their engagement. In order for Patrick to protect her, she must trust him. It appears that someone is trying to prevent her from telling her story. Is a fairy tale ending possible, or will they lose a second chance at love after Patrick is shot in the line of duty? Urban’s latest is face-paced and provides the reader with a number of clues to the attacker’s identity. The reader is educated on a number of facts regarding violent assaults against women. Amber’s character demonstrates that while people face regrets and past scars, God can show us how to use our pain to help others. Reviewed by: Leslie McKee.
You can reach Annslee at: annsleeurban@gmail.com
http://annsleeurban.blogspot.com http://www.annsleeurban.com http://www.facebook.com/mary.a.urban.9http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B008HRODHE
SHE'S HIDING A DEADLY SECRET… …and someone wants to make sure Amber Talbot never reveals it. When she becomes the target of a car bomb and a home invasion, she gets the message loud and clear. If she tells anyone her secret, she will die. The person charged with protecting her is police detective Patrick Wiley—the fiancé she walked away from but never forgot. The same man she never wanted to tell about the attack that left her for dead. Back then Patrick couldn't save her. Now he must. Because the attacker has returned to finish what he started. Except this time he's got them both in his sights.
Excerpt: The distant toll of the Chatham County, Georgia, clock tower rang twelve noon as Amber Talbot left the Safe Harbor Counseling Center and headed down River Street to her car.
The forecast had called for late-afternoon thunderstorms here in Savannah, but already dark clouds hovered low in the sky. A rising breeze swept the tree-lined streets, rustling spring foliage and delivering a sudden chill to the air. Turning up her collar, Amber eyed the murky waves that boomed against wooden docks. Boats tied to their posts bobbed like corks in the water. Curling white-caps crashed over their bows.
Amber pulled in a breath of humid air and picked up her pace. Perfect weather to snuggle up with a good book. Exactly what she needed. After weeks of being bogged down at work, she was treating herself to a restful weekend.
With those thoughts echoing in her head, Amber jogged up a short flight of steps to the parking lot. Lengthening her strides, she dug out her key fob and unlocked her car with a click.
"Ma'am, did you drop this?"
Amber spun in the direction of the male voice and found an older gentleman waving a manila envelope with her name sprawled across it.
She glanced at her open messenger bag, crammed full with her purse, client files and notes for her fund-raiser. How careless, she chastised herself, for forgetting to zip it closed.
Tucking the bag under her arm, she started toward the man. "Thank you, sir—"
A deafening blast filled the air.
Amber flew backward, landed hard on the pavement. Black smoke plumed in front of her. The ground shook as glass and metal rained down like a hailstorm. Scrambling to her knees, she hurled her arms over her head to protect it from the shower of stinging objects. A whoosh sounded, then she heard crackling as heat blanketed her. She willed herself to move but couldn't.
I'm going to die!
Broken Silence can be found at Amazon in Print and on Kindle!
Hope you enjoyed the spotlight!
Check back next week for Egg-Cerpt Exchange, Tuesday Treasure, Thursday Thoughts and of course Saturday Spotlight.
Until then...take care & God Bless! PamT
It is with great pleasure I bring you this Saturday Spotlight on fellow Pelican Book Group author, Mary Annslee Urban.
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Annslee Urban grew up watching old-time romance movies, which she attributes to her passion for sweet romance, true love and happy endings. A daydreamer at heart, Mary began her writing journey when the youngest of her five children started school. For several years she worked as a freelance writer for newspapers in her community and has written for magazines and online publications.Raised in the foothills of Arizona, she survived temperature shock when she moved to Western Pennsylvania, before setting in North Carolina with her husband and children. Aside from writing, Annslee works part-time as a Registered Nurse in the Behavioral Health field. She is a member of ACFW, and has served as on the board of Carolina Christian Writers. She currently has 4 published novels. Her current book, Broken Silence, Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense, is due out March 1, 2015.
When she isn’t writing, Annslee enjoys cooking, traveling to faraway places, playing with grandbabies and all things chocolate!
Broken Silence 4 star RT review rating! Amber Talbot runs the Safe Harbor counseling center for women in crisis situations. Recent attacks on her life bring her ex-financé Patrick Wiley, back into her world. The secret she harbors is what caused her to break off their engagement. In order for Patrick to protect her, she must trust him. It appears that someone is trying to prevent her from telling her story. Is a fairy tale ending possible, or will they lose a second chance at love after Patrick is shot in the line of duty? Urban’s latest is face-paced and provides the reader with a number of clues to the attacker’s identity. The reader is educated on a number of facts regarding violent assaults against women. Amber’s character demonstrates that while people face regrets and past scars, God can show us how to use our pain to help others. Reviewed by: Leslie McKee.
You can reach Annslee at: annsleeurban@gmail.com
http://annsleeurban.blogspot.com http://www.annsleeurban.com http://www.facebook.com/mary.a.urban.9http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B008HRODHE
SHE'S HIDING A DEADLY SECRET… …and someone wants to make sure Amber Talbot never reveals it. When she becomes the target of a car bomb and a home invasion, she gets the message loud and clear. If she tells anyone her secret, she will die. The person charged with protecting her is police detective Patrick Wiley—the fiancé she walked away from but never forgot. The same man she never wanted to tell about the attack that left her for dead. Back then Patrick couldn't save her. Now he must. Because the attacker has returned to finish what he started. Except this time he's got them both in his sights.
Excerpt: The distant toll of the Chatham County, Georgia, clock tower rang twelve noon as Amber Talbot left the Safe Harbor Counseling Center and headed down River Street to her car.
The forecast had called for late-afternoon thunderstorms here in Savannah, but already dark clouds hovered low in the sky. A rising breeze swept the tree-lined streets, rustling spring foliage and delivering a sudden chill to the air. Turning up her collar, Amber eyed the murky waves that boomed against wooden docks. Boats tied to their posts bobbed like corks in the water. Curling white-caps crashed over their bows.
Amber pulled in a breath of humid air and picked up her pace. Perfect weather to snuggle up with a good book. Exactly what she needed. After weeks of being bogged down at work, she was treating herself to a restful weekend.
With those thoughts echoing in her head, Amber jogged up a short flight of steps to the parking lot. Lengthening her strides, she dug out her key fob and unlocked her car with a click.
"Ma'am, did you drop this?"
Amber spun in the direction of the male voice and found an older gentleman waving a manila envelope with her name sprawled across it.
She glanced at her open messenger bag, crammed full with her purse, client files and notes for her fund-raiser. How careless, she chastised herself, for forgetting to zip it closed.
Tucking the bag under her arm, she started toward the man. "Thank you, sir—"
A deafening blast filled the air.
Amber flew backward, landed hard on the pavement. Black smoke plumed in front of her. The ground shook as glass and metal rained down like a hailstorm. Scrambling to her knees, she hurled her arms over her head to protect it from the shower of stinging objects. A whoosh sounded, then she heard crackling as heat blanketed her. She willed herself to move but couldn't.
I'm going to die!
Broken Silence can be found at Amazon in Print and on Kindle!
Hope you enjoyed the spotlight!
Check back next week for Egg-Cerpt Exchange, Tuesday Treasure, Thursday Thoughts and of course Saturday Spotlight.
Until then...take care & God Bless! PamT
February 19, 2015
#ThursdayThoughts: #RockingRomance with@Lyndi Lamont
Good Morning!
Today instead of our usual Thursday Thoughts, I am featuring the last of the Rocking Romance blogs then next week we'll move on to the Egg-Cerpt Exchange which continues through Easter.
So without much further ado, here's Linda McLaughlin (AKA: Lyndi Lamont).....
Linda McLaughlin grew up with a love of books and history, so it's only natural she prefers writing historical romance. She loves transporting her readers into the past where her characters learn that, in the journey of life, love is the sweetest reward. Linda also writes steamy to erotic romance under the name Lyndi Lamont, and is one half of the writing team of Lyn O'Farrell.
You can find her online at http://lindalyndi.comBlog: http://lindalyndi.com/reading-room-blog/Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LindaMcLaughlinAuthorGoodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/lindamclaughlinTwitter: @Lyndi Lamont https://twitter.com/LyndiLamont
Rocking Romance questions
1. What romantic event would you like to see this year? I’m looking forward to the California Dreamin’ Conference coming up in March. I always enjoy getting together with my romance writer friends.
2. Name your favorite romantic tip – Listen to your partner; so many couples talk past each other
3. What Rocking romance do you find intriguing (Miss Piggy and Kermit is mine)? I’m loving the romance between bad boy Killian Jones, aka Captain Hook, and good girl Emma Swan on Once Upon a Time. It has been fun to see the rascally pirate fall for the town sheriff.
4. What is your Rocking Romance flower? Roses are always classic, but orchids are beautiful and special.
5. Plan one romantic evening; what would you do? Since I live in Orange County… a walk on the beach at sunset. We have beautiful sunsets over the Pacific.
Rogue's Hostage
By Linda McLaughlinHistorical Romance
4 ½ stars and a Top Pick from Romantic Times!Romantic Times Nominee—Best Small Press Romance of 2003!2nd Place - Lorie Awards - Best Historical Romance!
His hostage...
In 1758 the Pennsylvania frontier is wild, primitive and dangerous, where safety often lies at the end of a gun. Mara Dupré's life crumbles when a French and Indian war party attacks her cabin, kills her husband, and takes her captive. Marching through the wilderness strengthens her resolve to flee, but she doesn't count on her captor teaching her the meaning of courage and the tempting call of desire.
Her destiny...
French lieutenant Jacques Corbeau's desire for his captive threatens what little honor he has left. But when Mara desperately offers herself to him in exchange for her freedom, he finds the strength to refuse and reclaims his lost self-respect. As the shadows of his past catch up to him, Jacques realizes that Mara, despite the odds, is the one true key to reclaiming his soul and banishing his past misdeeds forever.
Excerpt:
(Note: This excerpt starts with Jacques lacing Mara’s bodice because she injured her wrist after she threatened him with a knife. It’s not the most romantic first kiss you’ll ever read.)
When he’d finished lacing her bodice, Corbeau took her chin in his strong brown hand and tipped her face up to meet his gaze. “Do not be too proud to ask for help when you need it.”
She glared up at him, her eyes narrowed with anger. “I don’t want you touching me. Not after yesterday.”
Gently he stroked her face. “I never meant to hurt you.”
She pulled away from him and held up her bandaged wrist. “What do you call this?”
A spark of anger flashed in his eyes. “I call it self-defense. Have you forgotten that you tried to kill me?”
“You forced me to do it,” she said defiantly. “You should have let me go.”
“Never. Not if I have to sleep with my back to a tree from now on.”
He advanced on her and she retreated, her alarm growing.
“Will you try to stab me in the back next time?”
“No,” she insisted, shaking her head wildly. “I don’t want to hurt you. I just want to be free.”
He stalked her until she was backed up against a tree with no room to maneuver. He moved closer, looming over her, heat emanating from his body. “I have no wish to hurt you either, madame,” he said in a husky voice.
“Then what do you want?” The moment the words were out, Mara wished she could snatch them back. She saw his intent in his eyes as his gaze focused on her lips.
She pushed against the hard muscles of his chest but to no avail. Easily he encircled her in his arms, one hand at her waist, the other tangling in the hair at her nape, pulling her head back. She couldn’t miss his musky smell as he pressed closer to her. Her knees were weakened by the quivering of her limbs, and she fisted her hands in the rough linen of his shirt.
“What do I want,” he whispered as he lowered his head, his breath hot against her face. “This. This is what I want.”
* * *
Jacques stared at her through half-closed eyes. The anger, frustration, and desire that fired his blood merged into an overwhelming need to kiss her. He claimed her mouth with his own, smothering her lips, knowing the kiss was rough and aggressive, but unable to stop. He wanted to silence her, subdue her, and make love to her all at once.
Her hands beat against his chest in time with the wild drumming of his heart. Then she went still, enduring his embrace, lips clamped tightly together.
Desire won out over anger. He eased the pressure of the kiss, letting his tongue trace the fullness of her lower lip, coaxing her mouth to open. His hand loosened, let go of her hair, and stroked the back of her neck.
Note: Rogue’s Hostage is part of the Romance Super Bundle, a boxed set of ten full-length novels.
Buy Links: Amazon: http://amzn.com/B00BJO26OY ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/prod... http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books... https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/rogu... https://www.smashwords.com/books/view...
Hope you enjoyed this Rocking Romance. Drop by again soon! PamT
Today instead of our usual Thursday Thoughts, I am featuring the last of the Rocking Romance blogs then next week we'll move on to the Egg-Cerpt Exchange which continues through Easter.
So without much further ado, here's Linda McLaughlin (AKA: Lyndi Lamont).....
Linda McLaughlin grew up with a love of books and history, so it's only natural she prefers writing historical romance. She loves transporting her readers into the past where her characters learn that, in the journey of life, love is the sweetest reward. Linda also writes steamy to erotic romance under the name Lyndi Lamont, and is one half of the writing team of Lyn O'Farrell.
You can find her online at http://lindalyndi.comBlog: http://lindalyndi.com/reading-room-blog/Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LindaMcLaughlinAuthorGoodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/lindamclaughlinTwitter: @Lyndi Lamont https://twitter.com/LyndiLamont
Rocking Romance questions
1. What romantic event would you like to see this year? I’m looking forward to the California Dreamin’ Conference coming up in March. I always enjoy getting together with my romance writer friends.
2. Name your favorite romantic tip – Listen to your partner; so many couples talk past each other
3. What Rocking romance do you find intriguing (Miss Piggy and Kermit is mine)? I’m loving the romance between bad boy Killian Jones, aka Captain Hook, and good girl Emma Swan on Once Upon a Time. It has been fun to see the rascally pirate fall for the town sheriff.
4. What is your Rocking Romance flower? Roses are always classic, but orchids are beautiful and special.
5. Plan one romantic evening; what would you do? Since I live in Orange County… a walk on the beach at sunset. We have beautiful sunsets over the Pacific.
Rogue's Hostage
By Linda McLaughlinHistorical Romance4 ½ stars and a Top Pick from Romantic Times!Romantic Times Nominee—Best Small Press Romance of 2003!2nd Place - Lorie Awards - Best Historical Romance!
His hostage...
In 1758 the Pennsylvania frontier is wild, primitive and dangerous, where safety often lies at the end of a gun. Mara Dupré's life crumbles when a French and Indian war party attacks her cabin, kills her husband, and takes her captive. Marching through the wilderness strengthens her resolve to flee, but she doesn't count on her captor teaching her the meaning of courage and the tempting call of desire.
Her destiny...
French lieutenant Jacques Corbeau's desire for his captive threatens what little honor he has left. But when Mara desperately offers herself to him in exchange for her freedom, he finds the strength to refuse and reclaims his lost self-respect. As the shadows of his past catch up to him, Jacques realizes that Mara, despite the odds, is the one true key to reclaiming his soul and banishing his past misdeeds forever.
Excerpt:
(Note: This excerpt starts with Jacques lacing Mara’s bodice because she injured her wrist after she threatened him with a knife. It’s not the most romantic first kiss you’ll ever read.)
When he’d finished lacing her bodice, Corbeau took her chin in his strong brown hand and tipped her face up to meet his gaze. “Do not be too proud to ask for help when you need it.”
She glared up at him, her eyes narrowed with anger. “I don’t want you touching me. Not after yesterday.”
Gently he stroked her face. “I never meant to hurt you.”
She pulled away from him and held up her bandaged wrist. “What do you call this?”
A spark of anger flashed in his eyes. “I call it self-defense. Have you forgotten that you tried to kill me?”
“You forced me to do it,” she said defiantly. “You should have let me go.”
“Never. Not if I have to sleep with my back to a tree from now on.”
He advanced on her and she retreated, her alarm growing.
“Will you try to stab me in the back next time?”
“No,” she insisted, shaking her head wildly. “I don’t want to hurt you. I just want to be free.”
He stalked her until she was backed up against a tree with no room to maneuver. He moved closer, looming over her, heat emanating from his body. “I have no wish to hurt you either, madame,” he said in a husky voice.
“Then what do you want?” The moment the words were out, Mara wished she could snatch them back. She saw his intent in his eyes as his gaze focused on her lips.
She pushed against the hard muscles of his chest but to no avail. Easily he encircled her in his arms, one hand at her waist, the other tangling in the hair at her nape, pulling her head back. She couldn’t miss his musky smell as he pressed closer to her. Her knees were weakened by the quivering of her limbs, and she fisted her hands in the rough linen of his shirt.
“What do I want,” he whispered as he lowered his head, his breath hot against her face. “This. This is what I want.”
* * *
Jacques stared at her through half-closed eyes. The anger, frustration, and desire that fired his blood merged into an overwhelming need to kiss her. He claimed her mouth with his own, smothering her lips, knowing the kiss was rough and aggressive, but unable to stop. He wanted to silence her, subdue her, and make love to her all at once.
Her hands beat against his chest in time with the wild drumming of his heart. Then she went still, enduring his embrace, lips clamped tightly together.
Desire won out over anger. He eased the pressure of the kiss, letting his tongue trace the fullness of her lower lip, coaxing her mouth to open. His hand loosened, let go of her hair, and stroked the back of her neck.
Note: Rogue’s Hostage is part of the Romance Super Bundle, a boxed set of ten full-length novels.
Buy Links: Amazon: http://amzn.com/B00BJO26OY ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/prod... http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books... https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/rogu... https://www.smashwords.com/books/view...
Hope you enjoyed this Rocking Romance. Drop by again soon! PamT
